Half to ashel g



H. L. MOYER. WHIPPLBTRBB.

(No Moel.)

Patented Apr. l5,` 1890.

ls/wanton HENRY L. MOYER, OF SHICKSHINNY,

FFIC.,

PATENT PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- IIALF TO ASHEL G. ROOD, OF SAME PLACE.

WHIFFLETREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,546, dated .April 15, 1890.

Application iiled October 4, 1889.

To @ZZ whomf it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY L. MOYER, a resident of Shickshinny, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AVhifilet-rees 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andv exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

The object of the invention is to provide a secure and convenient lock for a movable hook suitable for either. a singletree or doubletree; and it consists in the devices hereinafter described and pointed ont.

I In the accompanying drawing, theiigure is a perspective, partly in section, of the improved device.

The reference-ligure l indicates the usual wooden part of a singletree, and 2 the like part of a doubletree, the front edge or side of each being, preferably, made straight, as represented, to secure the full strength of the stick. The rear side can be shaped on a curve, if desired, leaving the widest part at the center.

3 denotes a ring for attaching the single-V tree, and 4 a device secured to the rear of the doubletree provided with a hole to receive the usual bolt for connecting the same to a wagon or other object. This iron, shaped substantially as shown, furnishes a durable bear ing for a fastening-bolt and by its lateral eX- tensions supports the wood part of the doubletree to compensate for the cut in the wood made to receive the iron, the device as a whole not interfering with the general outline of the doubletree. v

5 denotes a movable or swinging hook adapted to receive a tug-ring or the like.` Said hook is hinged at 6 between two parts 7 7 of the iron 8, which is bolted or otherwise fastened to the wood in a secure inanner. Said iron. is recessed to receive the hook Serial No. 326,055. (No modell) tom of the slot or recess 13 in the iron 8, presses the hook in a manner to keep the catch ll in engagement. A notch or shoulder lt is preferably provided on the hook to furnish a bearing for the free end of the spring; but the special 4forno of the spring and its bearing are unessential.

In Order to hitch a harnessed animal to the singletree or to attach the latter to a doubletree the locking-lever is moved by means of its handle l5 to the position indicated by dot-ted lines. This disengages the catches ll and permits the hook to be moved to the position shown by dotted lines, in readiness to receive the t-ug iron or ring. The hook is locked by moving it and the locking-lever so that they engage each other by means of catches ll or similar devices, the spring act. ing to hold it locked, as before stated.

The locking-lever is shaped to conform, when closed, to the end of the iron S, being held in a recess in the latter, so as to be free from any liability of being caught by passing objects. lts handle l5 is curved rearwardly, as shown, that it may be readily grasped when necessary, and being located immediately in the rear of the iron S it is protected from opening by accidental blows; but should the hook become accidentally unlocked it would still hold the tug with ordinary security, though the draft would be all thrown upon its hinge-pivot, this ordinarily being sustained by said pivot in co-operation with the pivot of the lock, as will be understood. This makes a strong and safe construction and one that can be operated with ease and certainty. The tug-hook when in use has not the free end which in the common form .is liable to catch on bushes or other obstructions. hook, also, can be made without the customary twist given to such device, and the tug-eye can be engaged with it with more ease in case the tug is taut. Y

The several details may be varied by inechanies without substantially departing from the invention, which is herein illustrated in the form preferred.

Having described niy invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. The combination of the slotted iron The adapted to be secured to the end of lthe sin-l of said hook-pivot, the leverbeing adapted to move on its hinge or pivot to lock the hook and having a handle lying behind said iron and its body in the slot When the hook is locked, substantially as described.

2. In combination, the iron adapted to be secured to a single or double tree, having a slot across one endand side, a hook hinged or pivoted in the side slot, and a locking-lever hinged or pivoted in the end slot outside the hook-pivot and in line with the saine and With the body of the Whiflietree and conforming in a locked position to the end of the iron, the hook and leverbeing provided With shoulders or catches adapted to engage each other and lock the hook, substantially as described.

side and end, a hook pivoted in the side or front slot and having an exterior notch on its limb opposite the pivot, and a notched lever bent at right angles and pivoted in the slot in line with the hinge-pivot and with the body of the Whiietree, its body lying, when engaged with the hook, in the end slot and its outery their notches are engaged, snbstantiallyas described. l

In testimony whereofl I have signed this speccation in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HENRY L. MOYER.

Witnesses:

V. E. CHAPVIN, F. J. POST. 

